Apple tree named ‘MC-51’

ABSTRACT

‘MC-51’ is a whole tree mutation of the ‘MC38’ variety of apple tree, characterized by the early and homogeneous coloration of its fruit.

Latin name: Malus domestica Borkh.

Variety denomination: ‘MC-51’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

‘MC-51’ is a new and distinct variety of apple tree Malus domesticaBorkh. This new variety is a whole tree mutation of the ‘MC38’ appletree variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,654), characterized by the earlyand homogeneous coloration of its fruit. ‘MC-51’ was first observed bythe inventor in a commercial apple orchard at Sutton Grange, Victoria,Australia in 2008. The variety was asexually reproduced by chip buddingin 2011 at Presina, Italy. Test trees grown at Cornaiano, Italy wereobserved to retain the characteristics of the original ‘MC-51’ tree. Thenew variety has since been asexually propagated through successivegenerations and has been observed to remain true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

‘MC-51’ was first selected for the early and homogeneous coloration ofits fruit, as compared to its parent ‘MC38’. The early, even coloringreduces susceptibility to sunburn and allows the fruit to be harvestedin one picking. Additional distinguishing characteristics are describedin Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison of ‘MC-51’ to parent ‘MC38’ MC38 MC51 Tree - barkcolor Greyed-orange 177A Greyed-green 197A Leaf - petiole Greyed-red179A Yellow-green 145A color Fruit - stem color Greyed-orange 176BGrey-brown 199C Fruit russet in Low None stem cavity Fruit - uniformityStarts and ends More narrow stripes start to of coloration coloring withcolor earlier, with color stripes increasing to solid flush with nostripes Fruit - color Solid striped red 53A Early striping turns tosolid overcolor covering flush red-purple 59A covering 80% of 90% ofyellow-green 145A yellow-green 145A ground color ground color Fruit -date full Late (2 weeks Earlier (4 weeks before color is achieved beforeharvest) harvest), reducing susceptibility to sunburn Harvest - number 2Usually only 1 due to of picks homogeneous coloring Harvest yield

‘MC-51’ is distinguished from similar varieties ‘Rosy Glow’ (notpatented) and ‘Cripps Pink’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,880), as set forth inTable 2 below.

TABLE 2 Comparison of ‘MC-51’ to parent ‘Rosy Glow’ and ‘Cripps Pink’Expression of Expression of Comparator Characteristic Comparator ‘MC51’‘Rosy Glow’ Intensity of fruit Medium/High High overcolor ‘Rosy Glow’Tree habit Upright Spreading to drooping ‘Cripps Pink’ Extent ofovercolor Small Very large

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIG. 1 shows the even coloration of fruit of ‘MC-51’ (bottom) comparedto parent variety ‘MC38’ (top);

FIG. 2 shows blossoms of ‘MC-51’;

FIG. 3 shows fruit and leaves of ‘MC-51’;

FIG. 4 shows the even coloration of a bin of fruit of ‘MC-51’ (bottom)compared to parent variety ‘MC38’ (top); and

FIG. 5 shows sectioned fruit of ‘MC-51’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following-detailed botanical description is based on observationsmade during the 2015 through 2017 growing seasons at Cornaiano, Italy oftrees grown on ‘M9’ T337 virus-free rootstock (not patented) and plantedin 2013. All colors are described according to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart. It should be understood that the characteristicsdescribed will vary somewhat depending upon cultural practices andclimatic conditions, and will vary with location and season. Quantifiedmeasurements are expressed as an average of measurements taken from anumber of individual plants of the new variety. The measurements of anyindividual plant or any group of plants of the new variety may vary fromthe stated average.

-   Tree:    -   -   Vigor.—Medium.        -   Type.—Ramified.        -   Habit.—Spreading to drooping.        -   Bearing.—On spurs and long shoots.        -   Height.—Apical dominant; dependent on pruning.        -   Trunk diameter (at 30 cm above the graft).—2.9 cm.        -   Bark texture.—Smooth.        -   Bark color.—Greyed-green 197A.        -   Trunk lenticel shape.—Oval.        -   Trunk lenticel density.—4 to 5 per cm².        -   Trunk lenticel color.—Greyed yellow 151A.-   Branch (fruiting branches located at around 1 m above the graft    union):    -   -   Length.—Up to 80 cm; dependent on pruning.        -   Diameter.—14 mm at 5 cm from trunk.        -   Crotch angle.—70 to 80 degrees.        -   Bark color.—Grey purple 166A.        -   Lenticel length.—1 mm to 1.5 mm.        -   Lenticel shape.—Oblong.        -   Lenticel density.—4 to 5 per cm².        -   Lenticel color.—Greyed-yellow 161A.-   One year old shoot:    -   -   Length.—10 to 30 cm.        -   Color.—Greyed-purple 187A.        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Thickness.—6 mm to 10 mm at 5 cm from trunk.        -   Position of vegetative bud relative to shoot.—Outward.        -   Shape of vegetative bud apex.—Pointed.        -   Vegetative bud color.—Greyed-yellow 166A.        -   Internode length.—20 mm to 35 mm.        -   Growth pattern.—Straight.        -   Lenticel density.—4 to 5 per cm².-   Flower buds:    -   -   Quantity per spur.—6.        -   Shape.—Oval.        -   Length.—10 mm.        -   Diameter.—8.5 mm.        -   Color of closed bud.—Greyed-purple N187A.        -   Color of bud at balloon stage.—Red 47B.-   Flowers:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Umbellate.        -   Diameter of fully open flower.—5 cm.        -   Flower depth.—Shallow.        -   Relative position of petal margin.—Not touching.        -   Number per cluster.—6 plus king flower.        -   Date of first bloom.—April 12 (2 days after ‘Gala’).        -   Date of full bloom.—April 19.        -   Pollination requirement.—Required; ‘Gala’ or ‘Granny Smith’.-   Petals (measured on king flower):    -   -   Number per flower.—5.        -   Shape.—Oval to oblong.        -   Length.—1.6 cm.        -   Width.—1.2 cm.        -   Apex.—Round.        -   Base.—Slightly acuminate.        -   Margin.—Smooth, unruffled.        -   Vein prominence.—Smooth to rugulose.        -   Color of upper surface.—Red-purple 66C.        -   Color of lower surface.—Red-purple 66C.        -   Color of veins.—Red-purple N66B.-   Stigma:    -   -   Position.—Above anthers.        -   Color.—White 155D.-   Style:    -   -   Length.—10 mm.        -   Color.—Yellow-green 154D.-   Ovary:    -   -   Length.—5 mm.        -   Color.—Yellow-green 144A.-   Anthers:    -   -   Quantity.—10 (+/−2).        -   Length.—7 mm.        -   Color.—Yellow-white 158B.        -   Pollen color.—Yellow-white 158B.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—2.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.13 cm.        -   Color.—Green 138D.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity.—5.        -   Color.—Green 141D with red-purple 59A tip.        -   Shape.—Pointed.        -   Margin.—Smooth.-   Leaves:    -   -   Shape.—Oval.        -   Length.—Up to about 65 mm.        -   Width.—Up to about 45 mm.        -   Blade margin.—Serrate, not undulating.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base shape.—Cuneate.        -   Profile in cross-section.—Slighly concave.        -   Pubescence of lower surface.—Low.        -   Color of upper surface.—Green 139A.        -   Color of lower surface.—Yellow-green 147C.        -   Color of vein.—Green-white 157A.        -   Color of expanding leaf blade.—Green 139A.        -   Attitude in relation to shoot.—Outward.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—24 mm.        -   Diameter.—1.2 mm.        -   Color.—Greyed-red 179A at attachment to shoot, fading to            yellow-green 145A at leaf base.        -   Stipules.—About 2 present; length 1 to 2 mm.        -   Stipule color.—Greyed-red 179A.-   Fruit:    -   -   Quantity per cluster.—Up to 3.        -   Diameter.—80 mm.        -   Weight.—230 g.        -   Ratio of height to width.—1 to 1.        -   General shape in profile.—Spherical, symmetrical.        -   Position of maximum diameter.—Upper 50% in profile.        -   Ribbing.—None.        -   Crowning at calyx end.—None.        -   Depth of eye basin.—Small, 7 to 10 mm deep.        -   Width of eye basin.—3 cm.        -   Aperture of eye.—Closed.        -   Bloom of skin.—Absent.        -   Greasiness of skin.—Absent.        -   Anthocyanin coloration on young fruit.—Present, red-purple            59A.        -   Background color of skin.—Yellow-green 145A.        -   Amount of over color.—90%.        -   Over color of skin.—Red-purple 59A.        -   Intensity of over color.—High.        -   Pattern of over color.—Solid flush.        -   Amount of russet around stalk cavity.—Absent.        -   Amount of russet on cheeks.—Absent.        -   Area of russet around eye basin.—Absent.        -   Lenticel size.—Large, up to 3 mm.        -   Lenticel color.—Yellow-orange 18C.        -   Lenticel density.—5 per cm² (+/−2).        -   Length of stalk.—2.5 cm (+/−0.7 cm).        -   Thickness of stalk.—2.5 mm.        -   Depth of stalk cavity.—1.2 cm to 2.2 cm.        -   Width of stalk cavity.—2.8 cm (+/−0.4 cm).        -   Firmness of flesh.—Medium; 6.5 kg per cm².        -   Flesh texture.—Crunchy.        -   Aroma.—Sweet with acidity; balanced.        -   Juiciness.—Medium.        -   Brix.—12° to 15° Brix.        -   Flesh color.—White 155A.        -   Locule quantity.—5.        -   Aperture of locules.—Open.        -   Skin texture.—Thick; glossy when polished.-   Seeds:    -   -   Quantity per fruit.—Up to 2 per chamber; up to 10 total.        -   Length.—8 mm.        -   Width.—5 mm.        -   Shape.—Pointed.        -   Color.—Greyed-orange 175A.-   Harvest:    -   -   Time for harvest.—End of October.        -   Number of picks.—Usually 1; no more than 2.        -   Amount of fruit produced per tree per harvest.—20 kg.-   Disease resistance/susceptibility: Susceptible to black spot;    Moderately tolerant to powdery mildew; Tolerant to scab.-   Storage: Up to 12 months after harvest in CA storage.-   Market use: Fresh.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct apple tree substantiallyas described and illustrated herein.